Querétaro - Mexico

The 2nd card sent by Marco was from Querétaro, the capital capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico.

© www.exploworld.com

The city has preserved its historic downtown and taken steps to beautify many areas. The Historic Monuments Zone of Queretaro was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. The property was inscribed on the basis of two of its cultural criteria and considering that the site is of outstanding universal value and an exceptional example of a colonial town whose layout symbolizes its multiethnic population. It is also endowed with a wealth of outstanding buildings, notably from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Queretaro holds several treasures, and a friendly sense of civic pride prevails. The historic city center is filled with lovely colonial mansions, immaculate pedestrian  alkways (andadores) and quaint plazas little changed since colonial days. - in: http://www.visitmexico.com/en/queretaro

San Miguel de Allende - Mexico

Some time ago Marco, a mexican living in Austria, asked me if I could get some portuguese stamps and souvenir sheets. I didn't find any of his wishes in my local post office but I managed to get waht he wanted online. In return I got 5 of my missing mexican UNESCO sites. I couldn't be happier. 

Lets start with a card from San Miguel de Allende. 

Located in Guanajuato state, 265 km (165 miles) northeast of Mexico City and 96 km (60 miles) from the state capital, Guanajuato city, San Miguel is located within Mexico's hilly central highlands.

Once an important stop on the silver route between Zacatecas and Mexico City, its historic center is filled with well-preserved buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. With its narrow cobblestone streets, leafy courtyards, fine architectural details and sumptuous interiors, San Miguel de Allende is arguably the prettiest town in Mexico.

In 2008 UNESCO recognized San Miguel de Allende and the neighboring Sanctuary of Jesus de Atotonilco as World Heritage of Humanity sites, citing the town's religious and civil architecture as a demonstration of the evolution of different trends and styles, from Baroque to late 19th century Neo-Gothic. - in: http://www.visitmexico.com/en/san-miguel-de-allende

Fotografia: Jüpgen Bavoni * Diseño: G. Escobedo

La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the current parish church of San Miguel, is unique in Mexico and the emblem of the town. It has a Neo-gothic façade with two tall towers that can be seen from most parts of town. It is one of the most photographed churches in Mexico. The church was built in the 17th century with a traditional Mexican façade. The current Gothic façade was constructed in 1880 by Zeferino Gutierrez, who was an indigenous bricklayer and self-taught architect. It is said Gutierrez's inspiration came from postcards and lithographs of Gothic churches in Europe; however, the interpretation is his own and if more a work of imagination than a faithful reconstruction. - in: wikipedia

Emerald Lakes - New Zealand

Lets keep with volcanoes with a beautiful volcanic scenary in Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand’s most popular one day hike in Tongariro National Park. 

This beautiful card was sent by Adrienne. 

Photo © Edward Shaw

On the back of the card: Crossing spectacular volcanic terrain in the presence of two active volcanoes helps to make the Tongariro Crossing one of the best day walks in New Zealand. The water filled explosion craters, known as Emerald Lakes, get their brilliant greenish colour from the minerals which have leached from the adjoining thermal area. 

Bromo Tengger Semeru N. P. - Indonesia

The 1st of these card is an official from Czech Republic but the card is actually from Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in Indonesia. I already had a card from there, sent 5 years ago by Shinta. 

© mauritius images/Alamy

CZ-654836, sent by Homer

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers a massive area of 800 square kilometres in the centre of East Java. For anyone with an interest in volcanoes, a visit to the park is a must. This is the largest volcanic region in the province. Visit the park and see the plumes of smoke coming from Mt. Semeru, an active volcano which rises 3676 meters above sea level. Experience the remarkable Tengger Caldera, Java's largest, with its 10 km barren desert-like sea of sand. Within the caldera rise the deeply fissured volcanic cones of Batok and Bromo, the latter is still active with a cavernous crater from which smoke blows skyward. 

Temperatures at the top of Mount Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celsius. To the south of the park is a rolling upland plateau dissected by valleys and dotted with several small scenic lakes, extending to the foot of Mount Semeru. 

The Tengger sandy area has been protected since 1919. This is believed to be the only conservation area in Indonesia, and possibly the world which possesses a unique sand sea at the attitude of about 2000 m above sea level. There are several mountains inside the caldera: Mt Watangan (2,661 m asl). Mt Batok (2,470 m asl), Mt Kursi (2,581 asl), Mt Watangan (2,661 m asl), and Mt Widadaren (2,650 m asl).

With beautiful scenery, easy access and visitor-oriented facilities, it’s no wonder that this one of the most popular reserves in Java. - in: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/319/bromo-tengger-semeru-national-park

Thaipusam Festival - Malaysia

A few months ago Bei Hao asked me to swap cards and I got this one in return. 

All those people are celebrating Thaipusam Festival, which is celebrated in two places in Malaysia, that's in the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur and on Penang.

Thaipusam is an Indian festival. It's a celebration for the son of Shiva (Murugan also known as Subramaniam) and the becoming "one" of  Pusan and the Brihaspati stars. Lord Murugan is the universal granter of wishes.  All those who wish to ask for a future favour, fulfil a vow in return for a granted favour, or to repent for past sins will participate in this festival. - in: http://www.malaysiasite.nl/thaipusameng.htm

The festival is held in the tenth month of the Hindu calendar (mostly the end of January).

The temple at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur, often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists. The procession to the caves starts at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur in the heart of the city and proceeds for 15 kilometres to the caves, an 8-hour journey culminating in a flight of 272 steps to the top. Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called 'kavadi'. The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foisted with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise up to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some kavadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms. After bathing in the nearby Sungei Batu (Rocky River), the devotees make their way to the Temple Cave and climb the flights of stairs to the temple in the cave. Devotees use the wider centre staircase while worshippers and onlookers throng up and down those balustrades on either side. When the kavadi bearer arrives at the foot of the 272-step stairway leading up to the Temple Cave, the devotee has to make the arduous climb. Priests attend to the kavadi bearers. Consecrated ash is sprinkled over the hooks and skewers piercing the devotees' flesh before they are removed. No blood is shed during the piercing and removal. - in: wikipedia

Bayon Temple - Cambodia

Ara's asian trip also included a visit to Cambodia. Incredible was the word she used to describe this country.

She sent me my 3rd card of the Bayon Temple. The others were sent by Mian back in 2008 and by Aarati as an indonesian official card last year.  

Photo © The Corner Art Photography, Cambodia

"Bayon Temple is the spectacular central temple of the ancient city of Angkor Thom, which is located just to the north of the famous Angkor Wat in Angkor, Cambodia.

Angkor Thom was built as a square, the sides of which run exactly north to south and east to west. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, Bayon Temple represents the intersection of heaven and earth. Built around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is a Buddhist temple but it incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology.

Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. The curious smiling image, thought by many to be a portrait of Jayavarman himself, has been dubbed by some the "Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia." There are 51 smaller towers surrounding Bayon, each with four faces of its own.

ID-118232, sent by Aarati

Bayon Temple is surrounded by two long walls bearing an extraordinary collection of bas-relief scenes of legendary and historical events. In all, there are are total of more than 11,000 carved figures over 1.2km of wall. They were probably originally painted and gilded, but this has long since faded." - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/cambodia/angkor-thom-bayon-temple

Sa Pa - Vietnam

I'm back from my holidays. Is not that I don't mind but I didn't travel to such an exotic country as Ara did last may. She said the Vietnam's landscapes are beautiful and its people very friendly. Maybe one day I can confirm that.

Photo: Toan Huynh

Sa Pa is a frontier town and capital of Sa Pa District in Lào Cai Province in northwest Vietnam. 

Growing rice, Vietnam's most important crop on hillside terraces, is one of the most characteristic activities of Sa Pa.